Our Sister Title The Easingwold Advertiser & Weekly News was contacted recently from America. The great grand daughter of John “Jack” Johnson of Prophetstown, Illinois, USA sent an email with a photo of the Town Hall in Easingwold (our base). This photo had been found in an old photo frame behind some pictures of her grand parents. All the family knew of Easingwold was that Jack and his sister (another resident of Prophetstown) were born and raised there. Jack was one of 16 children born to Ralph and Jane Johnson of Easingwold on the 7th September 1861. Jack emigrated to the USA in 1882 and only returned to England in 1901 to see his mother.Jack died in 4th June 1953 aged 91 years (pictured left). After a life of farming he managed quite a lengthy retirement.As there are quite a few Johnsons in the Thirsk and Sowerby area, do you think you may be related to Ralph and Jane Johnson of Easingwold? There are 14 other children who might not have left the area and there is every possibility that their descendants still live locally. If you think you are a relative please contact us here at The Thirsk Weekly News:Tel: 01347 821329email: news@thirskweeklynews.com